Haytaian slams Massaro for support of sanctuaries for immigrants

The Democratic candidate for Warren County freeholder has come out in support of sanctuaries for illegal immigrants, a position that will likely hurt him in an already uphill battle a county where Donald Trump won 61% of the vote.

“I think sanctuary can work,” said John Massaro, who faces Lopatcong Mayor James Kern in a race for an open seat on the Warren County Board of Freeholder. “I don’t have all the information now.”

Massaro made his comments on a local radio station, WRNJ, under sharp questioning from co-host Chuck Haytaian, a former Assembly Speaker and GOP State Chairman.

“With that type of platform, you’ll never get elected in Warren County,” Haytaian told Massaro.

Warren County Republicans have a near 2-1 edge over Democrats in voter registration, with more Republicans than unaffiliated voters. Democrats have not had a freeholder since 2000, when now-State Sen. Michael Doherty unseated four-term freeholder Ann Stone.

Kern, 29, was elected to the Pohatcong Township Council in 2010, defeating two incumbents while still finishing his senior year at Rutgers. He was elected Mayor in 2011 and was re-elected in 2011 with 88% of the vote.

Kern and Massaro are facing off for the seat of GOP freeholder Ed Smith, who announced in February that he would not seek re-election.